Questions to Ask Yourself
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Are you eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid consisting of loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study?
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Are you receiving financial aid for your college education?
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If so, talk to your study abroad advisor or financial aid officer to see how this funding applies to study abroad.
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Do you know what your financial aid package does and does not cover in terms of study abroad expenses?
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Are you eligible for a grant or scholarship? Research the grants you might be eligible for. We provide a list of options below.
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Make a list of 5 which you are eligible for.
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Note the due dates for each application, and if you will receive the funding in time for your trip?
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Are you eligible for a need or merit scholarship or discount offered by a study abroad program?
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Such as the American Institute of Foreign Study (AIFS), Syracuse University, Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).
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Are you eligible for financial aid to assist underrepresented students enrolling in overseas study programs?
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We provide a list of options below.
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Have you started budgeting your income and/or saving money to provide for the program costs and cost of living abroad?
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What categories do you need to create in your budget book/ledger (rent, food, clothes, entertainment expenditures, etc.)?
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Do you try to give all your purchases a "work value" in order to see the time it will take you at work to earn the money to buy them?
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Are there any other ways to cut back on expenses (i.e. coupons, not eating out, etc.)?
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Can you think of any odd jobs that you might be able to do in your neighborhood in order to earn extra money (i.e. washing cars, babysitting, walking dogs, etc.)?
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Have you taken care of all your financial aid and scholarship forms so that you continue to have financial support at your home campus when you return?
Resources
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Study Abroad Parent Guide Financial Information: Financial information geared towards parents, but useful for students as well.
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GlobalScholar.us: Go to Course 1, Module 2, Task 6: "Money Management" about how to save and spend money while overseas.
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AllAbroad.us – Budgeting: Mentors address how to create and follow a budget as well as giving tips for budgeting overseas.
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AllAbroad.us – How to Pay: Mentors answer questions about how to pay for a study abroad experience.
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AllAbroad.us – Study Abroad Scholarships: Scholarships, grants, and fellowships for general study abroad, diverse students, and for non–traditional countries.
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Fast Web: This service provides a free customized list of financial aid sources including private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans.
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GlobalScholar.us: Go to Course 1, Module 1, Task 5: "Funding Your Study Abroad Program" for useful information about saving and how to research financial aid.
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StudyAbroad.com: Directory of various financial aid programs and websites for study abroad.
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Study Abroad Student Guide: Information about financial aid programs for students studying abroad.
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The Financial Aid: Page links to scholarship searches and comprehensive listing of financial aid information.
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The Student Guide: Department of Education publishes a guide each year on the eligibility requirements on various federal aid programs.